Within the realm of supermodels, Kate Moss deserves a category of her own. Coming up as a teen in the early 90s, Kate was a muse to some of fashion’s biggest names: Calvin Klein, Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Glen Luchford, Mario Sorrenti and more. Much more than a super, the i-D cover star has transcended the realm of fashion to become a true cultural icon and household name. Her personal style holds the same kind of legacy. Her style is of the rare sort, one that has defined — and redefined — the zeitgeist for over three decades and counting: the minimalism of the 90s, the unkempt swagger of the 00s indie rock scene, the edgy glam of the 2010s, and onwards. There are honestly too many looks to count. Honorable mentions include: the Bella Freud “Ginsberg is God” sweater, innumerable Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga jersey dresses, her John Galliano wedding gown, the sequinned look she wore for her 30th birthday party, the list goes on. Here, we’ve wounded up Kate Moss’ most iconic outfits.
At an Elite Model Agency party, 1993
In 1993, Kate brought the ubiquitous “naked dress” into the 90s with none other than the decade’s signature slip dress. The sheer metallic bias gown, which Kate accessorized with nothing more than a black thong and cigarette, was designed by Liza Bruce. It had also been borrowed for an editorial photoshoot and was meant to be returned the day after the party. To Vogue, Kate recounted, “I went with Jimmy B [hairstylist James Brown] and Corinne Day to the Elite party. I don’t know what I was doing there because it wasn’t my agency. It was the first time I really got papped. I had no idea why everyone was so excited — in the darkness of Corinne’s Soho flat the dress was not see-through!”
At the Designer of the Year Awards, 1993
A 15-year-old Kate met Naomi Campbell, then 18, on the set of a photo shoot in Los Angeles, far from both their homes in Britain. The two hit it off, instantly, and have gone on to become one of the most iconic duos — fashion or otherwise — of the 90s. Here, both supers wear looks that defined the youthful, coquette-ish glam of the decade’s fashion. Think Cher Horowitz in Clueless, Naomi wearing a Vivienne Westwood two-piece and deadly platform heels, Kate in a fur-trimmed duster, silver choker and micro-mini.
At a D.A.R.E. benefit, 1994
Off the runways and the red carpets, Kate’s 90s and 00s style was much less glam and more aligned with the grunge-minimalism associated with one of her most iconic clients: Calvin Klein Jeans. Between castings, at low-key events or out with friends, the model was papped wearing an enviable assortment of effortless staples. Favourites include white T-shirts and singlets, slip skirts, denim jackets, bootcut jeans, adidas Gazelles and, seen here, well-worn leather jackets.
Attending the Versace/De Beers Diamonds are Forever celebration, 1999
With supermodel BFF Naomi once again, Kate stepped off the Versace runway wearing her show look and headed straight to the label’s Diamonds are Forever charity gala. She recounts to Vogue, “That was a great night. I met Prince Charles.” An ultra-glam take on the era’s (and Kate’s) favourite slip dress, this Versace chain-mail mini was the perfect way to close out Kate’s 90s-era style.
At the vernissage of Mario Testino’s Portraits exhibition in London, 2002
To the opening of dear friend Mario Testino’s Portraits exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery, Kate wore what could be considered one of the Moss-iest looks of all time: a Nicolas Ghesquiere-designed black Balenciaga mini dress with apron front and strappy open sides, topped with a white fur chubby and accessorized, naturally, with a cigarette. The outfit speaks to Kate’s penchant for unconventional LBD’s and (rather unfortunately) fur jackets, whether worn together, separately or in any wild combination you could imagine.
At a dinner hosted by AnOther Magazine, 2003
Before Kate launched her unprecedented collaboration with Topshop in 2007 — back when the thought of a model-turned-designer was unheard of — she was papped in this vintage cocktail dress. In 2003, when the famous photograph was taken, the dress induced fashion tabloid mania and the season’s most sought-after trend: the pale yellow dress. Four years later, Kate recreated this very frock for Topshop in a collection inspired by her own wardrobe.
At Glastonbury Music Festival, 2005
Can you say cultural reset? Kate pioneered the Glasto look of the aughts. Between 2003 and 2005, the supermodel pulled many iconic looks at the legendary music festival festival, but this is the seminal outfit: fitted waistcoat-as-singlet, cheap plastic rosary, tweed hot shorts, low-slung studded belt (which reads “Glastonbury Rocks”) and, of course, the muddied-up Hunter rain boots. Were you really an indie-rock-loving, festival-goer if you didn’t own a pair of these babies? At the time, Kate was dating The Libertines and Babyshambles frontman, Pete Doherty, the latter of which was performing in the year’s line-up.